Developmental Milestones
When your first child comes is born, your world revolves around them and every little thing they do is awe-inspiring. You eagerly await the milestones that every other parent talks about…first smile, sitting, crawling, first tooth, first steps and first word. When your baby finally hits those milestones, you race to the phone to call your friends and family to announce the news. You tell the cashier at the grocery store. You stop old ladies on the street and say, “See this baby? He smiled today.” Most people forgive you for insisting that they watch while your baby tries to crawl, even though he gets up on all fours and rocks for 20 minutes before moving forward. They understand…or you provide really good liquor so they don’t mind. Either way, it’s all good.
When your second child is born, it’s a little bit different – even for you. Sure, you are excited for the first smile and all that and, of course, you find the child just as brilliant/athletically inclined/talented as the first but those old school milestones aren’t quite as important to you. Let’s be honest here – there is an entirely different set of milestones that you look forward to the second time around. These are the milestones that no one really talks about so, as is my lot in life, I am here to share the wealth of my experience with you. Behold! I give you the list of milestones that mean most to the parents of two children:
-
- Ability to dress themselves (matching clothes obviously not required)
- Ability to put the thumb in the thumb hole of a mitten independently
- Ability to puts all fingers in finger slots of gloves quickly without assistance and whining (parental whining, that is)
- Ability to put on all winter gear by themselves and then take it all off when they need to go to the bathroom one minute later
- Ability to get into the car without help
- Ability to buckle and unbuckle a seat belt without parental intervention
- Ability to use a kleenex without needing an adult to hold the kleenex and say repeatedly, “Just blow, honey. Like this!” while playing a game of nasal charades
- Ability to tie shoes, button buttons, zip zippers
- Ability to procure for themselves a healthy snack and glass of water
- Ability to get a parent a cup of coffee with cream and sugar and add just the right amounts of each
Both children have finally mastered this list of milestones and life is so much easier. I know that #10 doesn’t seem essential but I would totally put that in Zeca’s baby book…if she had a baby book. It’s so true – second kids really do get the short end of the stick.
Posted: January 12th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
Comments
Comment from Vikki
Time January 12, 2010 at 8:23 am
Susan – I agree on #11…we just haven’t hit that one with the second child due to quality control issues.
Comment from Susan (woo222)
Time January 12, 2010 at 10:07 am
You totally crack me up! This is awesome! ~Susan
Comment from Amy
Time January 12, 2010 at 10:30 am
Great post! I can especially relate to the glove issue and happy to know I was not alone in whining with respect to that activity. I am sad to say that #10 has not been achieved by my children. But they are great at fixing martinis.
Comment from Vikki
Time January 12, 2010 at 10:40 am
Amy – clearly you need to have me over for drinks more often since neither of us would have to lift a finger.
Comment from sarah k
Time January 12, 2010 at 12:25 pm
a great post vikki!
Comment from Malia
Time January 12, 2010 at 1:34 pm
This is when I’m glad that I live in Texas–very few days require winter clothing. Kai spent at least 7 months in only a diaper last year, until he figured out how to undo them.
Comment from Deborah
Time January 12, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Are you telling me that my children will be able to do all of those things?!? By THEMSELVES?!? You wouldn’t tease a haggard mother of 2 small children, would you? That would just be too cruel. I’m whimpering with muffled hope.
Comment from Kelly
Time January 13, 2010 at 12:26 am
12. Muddle limes appropriately.
13. Let their moms sleep in on a weekend morning before presenting them with their perfect cup of coffee.
I think we’re about a year from having 1-9 down…. so looking forward to telling the checkout clerk all about it!
Comment from Laura
Time January 13, 2010 at 7:27 am
That list keeps growing as the kids get older. Do you think the list will ever end? When they’re 24? 30? 40?
Comment from Kristin Swanson
Time January 13, 2010 at 2:47 pm
we have not mastered tying shoes or even sleeping alone in our own bed. *sigh*
Comment from Meredith
Time January 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I have not taught the kids to make my coffee yet but that is an excellent idea. I’m also wondering what age would be appropriate to teach them to mix cocktails? Is 9 too young? Because my daughter’s been cooking and I think she’s gotten the concept of measuring down pat and can cut a great wedge of lime….
Comment from Liz
Time January 15, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Your post and the comments had me laughing out loud. I’ve got three kids, so if you think the second one gets ignored, I’ve had to lie to my third-born and tell him pictures of my first-born as a baby are pictures of him, since his photo album is a bit, um, sparse and I didn’t want him to get a complex. Luckily, they did look alike as babies, just not without the diapers, since my first-born is a girl!
Comment from Vikki
Time January 19, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Liz – welcome to you…and your first comment is priceless!
Comment from DMahoney
Time January 12, 2010 at 7:13 am
I would add the ability to bring the parent’s beverage of choice (Daddy gets beer, Mama gets wine, for breakfast we both get coffee…).
And when we finally do hit the point when our little Julie can go to the bathroom in the middle of the night unassisted, that will be a milestone!